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NFC East team grades; Giants, Redskins poised to rebound? Cowboys now division’s worst?

The NFC East was uncharacteristically active in free agency, but two teams got better, one signed all in house free agents and one got purged of their talent.

Dallas Cowboys:Key Additions:Henry Melton, DTKey Departures:DeMarcus Ware, DE; Jason Hatcher, DTAnalysis: Poor cap moves from the past have finally bit the Cowboys. Jerry Jones has managed his team into the back of the NFC and maybe the NFL. Losing Ware is brutal, but it isn’t all bad as they did bring in a quality starter in Melton. Overall Dallas got worse and might be in rebuild mode

New York Giants:Key Additions: Walter Thurmond, CB; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CBKey Departures:Linval Joseph, DTAnalysis: The Giants turned a weakness into a strength overnight with the additions of Thurmond and DRC. The theme of the Giants offseason was getting veterans who would provide depth and a reasonable price and they did. They are a better team than they were in 2013 even with the loss of a player like Hakeem Nicks.Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles:Key Additions:Nolan Carroll, CBKey Departures:DeSean Jackson, WRAnalysis: Say what you will about the Jackson drama, but the Eagles will miss his explosiveness at least a tad. The Eagles kept their own free agents in house and got them at good prices. The Eagles added to the needy secondary, but will need more help from the draft.Grade: B

Washington Redskins:
Key Additions: DeSean Jackson, WR; Jason Hatcher, DTKey Departures:London Fletcher, LBAnalysis: The Redskins scavenged the players from within the division and made the most of their cap space. Signing rival free agents is a solid strategy that both strengthens your team and weakens the opposition. Jackson gives Washington a versatile and powerful passing attack and Hatcher will solidify the interior defensive line. The Redskins got better than their 2013 disaster.Grade: B